of seattle



Aug. 28, 1928.

F'. T. HOPE TEETH CLEANING DEVICE I Filed Sept. 28, 1926 m KNN N.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 28. 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,682,178 PATENT oFFic-E- FREDERICK T. HOPE, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO DENTAL CLEAN SEE, COMPANY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

TEETH-CLEANING DEVICE.

This invention relates to dental devices and specifically to improvements to the teeth cleaning device shown and described in United States Patent No. 1,553,818 issued to me September 15, 1925; and the ob ect of the present invention, is to perfect the constructionof said device in various part culars, to render it more efiicient iii-operation more conveniently adjustable, and, generally extend its usefulness.

More specific objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description.

The invention consists in the novel con struction, adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and cla med. V

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a central longitudinal section of a dental device embodying my improvements and illustrated in its extended position for use.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same shown in its folded position and including a cap member. Figs. 3and 1 are transverse sections on the lines 38 and l-, respect vely, of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of F g. 1. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of one of the casing members. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the cap-feed shown detached.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig.1.

The present invention like that shown in the patent above referred to is provided with a casing comprising two tubular companion members 10 and 11 which are foldably connected with each'other by means of a hinge pin 12 extending through apertured lugs 13 of ferrule elements lt and 15 provided for the inner ends of the respective members. In the improved construction is a coil spring 16 which is mounted upon the hinge pin 12 for yieldingly retaining the casing members in aligned relation with respect to each other as represented in Fig. 1.

Such aligned or extended condition of the casing isthat in which itis employed. For releasablyvretaining said casing in its folded positiomsee Fig. '2, so as tobe conveniently carried in a persons pocket; I provide a hol- 10W cover 17 which is. engageable over the outer ends of both of the casing members.

This cover 17 also serves as a sheathto exclude dirt and protect the floss thread and the abrading caps to be hereinafter described from becoming soiled and mutilated. A clip 18 provided upon sa d cover may be advan- Application filed September 28 1926. Serial No. 138,185.

tageously used to engage the edge of a per sons pocket when the device is to be carried within the latter.

The ferrules l4: and 15 are detachably connected to the peripheral walls 10 and 11 or tubes, as hereinafter termed, of the respective casing members as by means of a bayonet joint as shown with reference to the member 11 in Fig. 6, wherein the ferrule 15 represented by dotted lines in this view, is provided with a stud 19 operable in an angularly arranged slot of the tube 11 More particularly, said slot comprises a portion 20 disposed longitudinally ofthe casing to admit the stud into an end of the slot portion 20 which extends lielically about the tube .11 whence an endwise movement of the ferrule is effected by rotating the same.

The member 10 is designed to serve as'a receptacle for a plurality of caps 21 .of substantia'llytruneated conical shape which are nested one within the other as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 1. These caps are of stiff paper or other material suitable for cleaning a persons teeth by an abrading action to remove food, tartar, etc., therefrom. The outermost of said caps is held in position to protrude from the member 10 by having the peripheral edges ofthe respective caps engaged Within the groove of a screw thread 22 provided interiorly of a sleeve 23 which is connected to the casing tube 10 for rotary movement. The sleeve, or cap-feed as hereinafter designated; is mounted upon the member 10 and is connected thereto by means ofa stud 24 of the member taking in an endless groove 25 provided within the inner periphcry of the cap feed and located in a plane at right angles to the'axis thereof.

As shown in Fig. 7, thegroove 25 communicates with the end of a groove 26 extending helica'lly of the capfeed to serve as a way for the passage of the stud 24 into'and from the groove 25 whereby: the sleeve is detachable with the follower and each other to permit the rotatory movement of the cap-feed to act through the instrumentalit-y of its screw thread to impart advance movement to the caps.

The second casing member 11 has its tubular element 11 divided by a partition into inner and outer chambers 31 and 32, respectively. Said inner chamber 31 constitutesa receptacle for a quantity of material, preferably in powder form, suitable for use as a mouth wash or as a threat gargle to sweenten ones breath.

This material, indicated by 33 in Fig. 1, is desirably contained within a paper capsule 34 and is removed from an end thereof by ieans of a scoop shaped dispenser 35 which is mounted, like a drawer, for reciprocatory movement in an aperture provided in the ferrule end. The outward travel of the dis penser35 is limited by protuberances 35 thereof engageable with the inner surface of the ferrule end wall; its inward travel is limited by the relatively large front end 35 of the dispenser encountering the outer surface of said ferrule wall.

When the device as a whole is in its extended Fig. 1 position, the end of the ferrule 14 bears against the dispenser. To prevent the accidental withdrawal of the dispenser when the device is in its folded Fig. 2 position, the side walls of the dispenser have outsets, as at 36, Fig. 1, to afford shoulders which may be pulled through the ferrule aperture when accommodated by an inward flexing of the side walls of the dispenser.

The chamber 32 of the member 11 provides a receptacle for a spool 88 of linen thread, or an equivalent, to serve as a dental floss. A ferrule 39 is detachably connected to the outer end of thetube element 11 by means of a bayonet joint. This bayonet connection is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 6with reference to the ferrule 15, and comprises a stud 40 (Fig. 1) provided on the peripheral wall of the ferrule operable in the helical portion 41 of an angular slot provided in the tubular wall 11 Said slot portion 41 communicates from one of its ends with a slot portion 41 permitting the passage of the stud 40 for the removal 7 of the ferrule for replacing exhausted spools of floss within the casing as may be required. The slot portion 41 and the Stud 40 are, moveover, disposed 111 such relation that the turning of the ferrule in one rotary direction will cause the ferrule and its wall 42 (Fig. 4) to be brought against the extremity of the tube 11 and when turned in the opposite rotary direction cause said end wall 42 to recede from the tube.

The ferrule end 42 is provided with slot 48 which extends from near the axis of the fer- .rule in a curved direction, substantially as shown in Fig. 4, to within proximity of the periphery of the ferrule and above the circle of the tube extremity.

By such an arrangement of the ferrule slot, the thread unwound from the spool and passed through the slot, by suitably rotating the ferrule 39, will be lead thereby onto the edge of the tube 11 as indicated by X 111 Fig. 1to clamp the thread between the ferrule and the casing tube. m

The axial or clamping movement of the ferrule is effected by the movement of the stud 40 in the helical portion 41 of the casing slot. 45 is an arm extending from the dia metrically opposite side of the ferrule from the outer end of the slot 48. This arm is provided with a return bend 46 and terminates in an arm portion which is disposed at right angles, or nearly so, to the axis of the member 11. The extremity 47 of said arm is provided with a notch 48 to receive the thread T and. which extends fromsaid notch in a groove 49 of the arm to a thread belaying eleat 50 provided on the arm, preferably at the bend 46 thereof. The edges of the horn elements of'said cleat are desirably sharpened to afford means for cutting off pieces of the thread by drawing the latter along the same.

When not in use, the device is held in its folded position by means of the cover 17 as in Fig. 2. Vfhen the cover isremoved the spring 12 tends to retain the device extended in Fig. 1 ready to use for cleaning the teeth.

The part of the thread T between the fer rule 39 and the extremity of the arm 45 is utilized in the interstices between teeth to re move food and other matter therefrom. After being used the ferrule 39 is given a rotary movement to release the ferrule from its en aged relation with the thread at X. s

The thread is then pulled from the chamber 32 to string a clean section between the arm and ferrule, whereupon the latter is turned into clamping position, and the thread outside of the casing drawn taut and secured to the eleat 50, the surplus thread being severed and thrown away.

The caps 21 are projected to prevent the outermost one into position for cleaning and polishing teeth by turning the cap-feed 23 as above described. The mouth cleansing preparation 33 is delivered from the casing when the latter is folded so as to permit the dispenser 35 being withdrawn into its delivery position.

WVhat I claim, is

1. In a toilet article, the combination with a tubular casing having an open end and adapted to serve as a receptacle for dentalfioss thread, said casing being provided in its periphery with a slot disposed helically of the casing, of a ferrule serving as a closure for the open end of said casing and having astud engageable within the casing slot, said ferrule being provided with a slot extending from the central portion thereof'into proximity of its periphery whereby the turning of the ferrule in one rotary direction will lead the thread into position to be clamped between the ferrule and the casing end through the action of said stud in the helical slot of the casing.

2. In a toilet article, in combination, a casing provided with two tubular members hingedly connected to each other for arranging the same in relatively aligned and folded positions, one of said members having open ends and divided into two compartments, one of said compartments serving as a dentalfloss thread receptacle and the other compartment for the reception of a container, closures for the open ends of said compartments, the closure for the thread compartment having a thread delivery aperture, and a dispenser mounted for reciprocatory movement in the closure for the container compartment, said dispenser being adapted to be positively held by the casing itself in its inoperative position when the casing members are in aligned relation with each other.

3. In a toilet article as defined in claim 2 wherein a spring is employed for yieldably retaining the members in their aligned relation, and a means for retaining said members in side by side relation permitting the operating of the dispenser.

i. In a toilet article, in combination, a casing having a compartment which is open at one end, said compartment being adapted to receive a container of mouth cleansing ma terial, an apertured closure for the open end of the compartment, a material dispenser slidably mounted in the aperture of said closure,means provided upon the dispenser and engageable with said closure for limiting the movement of said dispenser, and means provided upon the dispenser and engageable with the closure for yieldably retaining the dispenser in its inoperative position.

5. In a toilet article,a tubular casing memher having an open end and adapted to contain a plurality of tooth cleaning caps, a capl eeding device rotatably connected to the open end or" said member, and spring pressed means provided within said member for supplying caps to the cap-feeding device.

6. In a toilet article, as defined in claim 5, wherein the casing. member is provided with a stud, and the cap-feeding device is provided interiorly with a peripheral groove located in a plane at ri ht angles to the axis of said device to. afford a way for said stud permitting rotary movement to the device, and a branch groove extending from the aforesaid groove for the passage of the stud in the removal and replacement of the device with respect to the casing member.

7 In a toilet article, a tubular casing memher having an open end and adapted to con tain a plurality of tooth cleaning caps, and a cap-feeding device rotatably mounted upon the open end of said member and operatively connected thereto by means of screw threads whereby a turning movement of the device in one rotary direction will protrude the caps progressively from the casing member.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this day of September 1920.

, FREDERICK T. HOPE. 

